Wed, 29 Oct 2025

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 Character.ai to ban teens from talking to its AI chatbots

The AI chatbot app, which has millions of users, said it was responding to parents and regulators.
Character.ai will restrict under-18s from having conversations with virtual characters on its chatbot site from November 25.
* Only users aged 18 and above can engage in open-ended conversations with AI-powered chatbots.
* Teenagers (13-17 years old) will be able to generate content, such as videos, but not have direct conversations with the chatbots.
* New age verification methods are being implemented for all users.
* Character.ai is also funding a new AI safety research lab. Online safety campaigners and experts have welcomed the move, but some have questioned why it took so long to introduce these restrictions.
* Internet Matters said that child safety measures should have been built in from the start.
* The Molly Rose Foundation expressed skepticism about Character.ai's motivations for making the change.
* Social media expert Matt Navarra noted that this was a "wake-up call" for the AI industry, which is moving towards post-crisis regulation. Character.ai claims to be prioritizing user safety and has taken an aggressive approach to implementing parental controls and guardrails.
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